Dogs: Bringing A New Baby Home

 

When you bring a new baby home, everything changes. There will be new smells, new routines and a new human being! This can be incredibly overwhelming for our canine family members. Especially, if they were never introduced to babies or small children as a puppy. Dogs, like humans, need time to adjust to the changes, but there are things you can do to help your furry family member transition:

1. Provide your dog the space-- mentally & physically-- to adjust to the new baby: The crate is your dog's best friend. Remember, that dogs are naturally den dwellers. The crate should be your dog's sanctuary & should never be used for punishment. Additionally, when your children are older-- crawling age and up--there should be a non-negotiable rule: Absolutely no (human) children inside the crate. A crate is a place for the dog to escape & find serenity in all the chaos of family life. 

2. Before The Baby Arrives-- Train, Train, Train: Teach and/or review basic commands before the baby arrives-- 

"Go To (insert location)"
"Away"
"On/Off"
"Up/ Down" (furniture or stairs)
"Stay"
"Leave it"
"Drop"
 
All of these are essential for your dog's safety as well as your own and the baby's.
 
3. Control Your Pheromones (to your best ability): Having a new baby coming into the house is a stressful and exciting event. But let's remember, that your dog doesn't necessarily know what is going on. He/she can SMELL your pheromones that say "stress" & "excitement". In turn, this will communicate to your dog that they should be stressed and excited. If you are nervous when your dog is around the baby, your dog will be nervous around the baby. 
 
4. Get Advice from dog experts: A "Dog Expert" means just that.... A dog expert. Yes, most everyone that owns a dog will think they are an expert, but seek out information from a dog behaviorist or trainer. Getting advice from your neighbor, best friend, aunt.... the person at the grocery store, will only add to the confusion of what to do and not to do.  

5. Reward Your Dog for Positive Behavior around the Baby: When your dog behaves without fear or concern around the baby--> click & reward. On the flips side, never try to correct your dog while they are fearful and anxious when they are near the baby. Instead, calmly & firmly eject the dog from the area. 

6. Before the Baby-- Introduce The Dog to All Things Baby: Everything that has to do with the baby should be introduced to your dog prior to the arrival-- new gear, new routines, new smells, etc... Encourage calm & positive associations and minimize any feelings of disruptions, deprivation or agitation. Start to take your dog on walks with the stroller. If you know that you will be spending less time with your dog when the baby arrives, try to start decreasing your attention beforehand and enlist others to help. Invest in some amazing interactive toys for your dog as well. In addition, if you are worried the baby's crying will be distressing, start playing a recording of a baby crying on a low volume. Gradually increase the volume over time until it reaches the natural cry level. 

7. THE INTRODUCTION: The day has come! You are bringing the baby home. Yes, it does help to bring something home that smells like the baby prior to the baby arriving. I used the hospital cap my baby wore just after being born & had my husband bring it to the dog to smell prior to my (and the baby's arrival). Remember, that your dog has missed you and wants to see YOU. It helps if you can enter the house without the baby first, so the dog can get all it's wiggles and jumps out. Enlist someone to take the dog for a nice long walk prior to your arrival, so the dog is tired. Once all the wiggles and jumps are done & it's time for introductions, call the dog into the baby's space instead of bring the baby into the dog's space. Maintain boundaries and let your dog respectfully sniff. The dog should be included, but not in or on top of personal space. DO NOT force the meet. If your dog is acting fearful and/or wants nothing to do with the baby, respect your dog's space. Many dogs, just like humans, need time to adjust. 
 
8. Always supervise the dog and baby together. This is also the hard rule for when your baby is no longer a baby. For more information on children and dogs, click here. 



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